Tropical Togs

THE MOVIE: “Joe vs. the Volcano”

THE SETUP: Tom Hanks stars as befuddled, soul-sick Joe Banks, sent on a life-affirming adventure (he believes he only has six months to live) by a billionaire named Graynamore (Lloyd Bridges). Along the way he meets up with three faces of Meg Ryan, who plays a trio of ditzes: DeDe, Angelica and Patricia. Most of the action is set on way-out Waponi Woo, a little-known South Sea island wackier than Waikiki, that’s for sure.

THE LOOK: Hanks starts out looking like a schlub in a nothing suit, but soon gets into a shorts safari outfit accessorized with leis, which movie costume designer Colleen Atwood modeled after ‘40s adventure film garb. “Banana Republic was too trendy and Abercrombie & Fitch was too stuffy,” she explains. As DeDe, Ryan is a frumpy office worker at the same spot where be-suited Hanks hangs his hat. Her dowdy but endearing polka dot dress is a Melrose Avenue special, from Aardvark, the used clothing store. Angst- ridden Angelica, Ryan’s second role, is a lot more interesting to look at. She wears a gold Chanel suit, altered to fit tight, and accessorizes with checkered gloves--a play on the taxi cab logo. Patricia, Ryan’s third character, is a visual drag, except for when she slips into a Balinese sarong Atwood designed for the last scene. “It had to look like it came from the islanders and be a fairy tale dress, a sort of a wedding dress,” she said.

THE LABELS: About 80% of the clothes are Atwood originals, or Chanel and Rifat Ozbek originals with a few alterations. Meg Ryan also makes use of a nifty Zoran cashmere sweater while sailing the sea, and Hanks is decked out in an Armani tux in the last scene. As for the Waponi islanders, the look was pure Atwood, based on research she did on Easter Island and New Guinea native cultures, and her own sense of fun. Costumes consist mainly of feathers, flowers and a modern touch--crushed orange soda cans.

THE STORES: Fabrics came from International Silks and Woolens in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, Waponis-wear fabrics were imported from Indonesia. Atwood got Chanels and Armanis from the New York showrooms. She also found used clothing stores to be good for odds and ends. “I always find one or two things for every movie I do at Aardvark or Jet Rag on Melrose.”